Bathtub



Dec. 22, 1942. H. a. cooRDEs 2,305,845

BATHTUB Filed Aug. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Harry 6.. (oar-4 6s.

Qua, end/W2 Q ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 22, 1942. H. c. COORDES 2,305,846 I BATHTUB Filed Aug. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I Harry 6. 6'00 r4 65.

ATTORNEY- 1942- v H. G. COORDES 2,305,346

' I BATHTUB Filed Aug. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v v INVENTOR Harry 6'. [aw-Jest bvmre wwgr I I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1942 2,305,846 BATHTUB Harry G. Coordes, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Briggs Manufacturing Company,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 15, 1940, Serial No. 352,754

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bathtubs and more particularly to bathtubs made from sheet material by stamping operations.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved bathtub made by stamping from sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bathtub of a built-up construction in which separate pieces are secured together by spot welding and the bathtub when finally assembled becomes, in effect, a one-piece construction without bolt, screw or rivet connections.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bathtub of a built-up construction and of such a character that no portion thereof is shielded from the heat during the enameling operation and therefore the enamel coat comes out even and smooth in the entire bathtub.

It is an added object of the present invention to provide a bathtub of the foregoing character which is simple in construction, dependable in use, has a pleasing appearance, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bathtub embodying the present invention, the bathtub being constructed for installation in a corner of a bathroom.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bathtub, looking on the supporting frame thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bathtub, the supporting frame thereof being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the bathtub, the observer looking on the right-hand end thereof.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the bathtub.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bathtub taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the broken line '|--'i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing in perspective the main sub-assemblies of the bathtub, namely, the main tub portion, the apron portion and the supporting frame.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of example, an improved bathtub embodying the present invention. The present invention is described as embodied in a bathtub adapted to be set in a corner of a bathroom. However, it will be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to bathtubs suitable for different installations and particularly for bathtubs adapted to be set into a recess in a bathroom in which the walls surround the bathtub from its three sides.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 2 and 8 thereof, the bathtub illustrated therein comprises generally three main portions or sub-assemblies, namely, a main tub portion iii, an apron portion ii and a supporting frame i2. In accordance with the invention all of said three portions are connected together in a way hereinafter described in detail and when assembled the bathtub presents, in eifect, a one-piece construction having no separable joints, such as bolt and screw connections and it can be enameled in its fully assembled position. Upon completion of the enameling process the bathtub may be shipped and installed as a one-piece construction, the supporting frame being adapted to rest directly on the floor and particularly without any additional supporting frames or metal members to which the supporting frame has to be connected by screws or bolts. The parts of the bathtub are assembled together by welding, and particularly by spot welding, the number of welds on the exposed portions of the bathtub being reduced to a minimum. In addition, the supporting frame is of such a construction that it imparts requisite rigidity into the bathtub preventing objectionable sagging or bending of the parts thereof. The supporting frame i2 is also so constructed that While possessing necessary rigidity it does not include members which would shield the underlying portions of the bathtub from heat in an enameling furnace, thereby eliminating the possibility of formation of an uneven coat.

The main tub portion ll comprises a deep drawn tending flange or ledge ll provided along its outward edges with a continuous raised rim l3 extending around all four sides of the basin and flange ll. Along the back and the right-hand side of the main tub portion In the rim l3 merges into an upstanding flange t9 adapted to be built into the wall or behind the wall facing of the bathroom. Along the front and the left-hand side of the main tub portion the rim I3 merges into a depending apron flange which is provided along its lower edge with a continuous inwardly extending flange 2!. The flange 2| extends for a substantial distance and in addition to stiffening the depending flange 20, said flange 2| itself possesses sufllcient stiffness to bear the loads which may be imposed on it in operation. The

flange 2| constitutes an element to which the apron portion I i is secured. Preferably the bathtub unit as above described is formed seamlessly from a single flat metal sheet.

The apron portion Ii comprises an upstanding wall or panel 22 bent at a right angle, as shown at 23, and provided with an ornamental embossment 24 extending continuously along the lower edge of the entire apron portion II. The opposite ends of the wall 22 are bent at right angles, as indicated at 25, in order to present a better appearance and to stiffen the apron portion. Along the upper edges of the upstanding wall 22 there is provided an inwardly extending flange 26 complementary to the flange 2| of the tub portion and corresponding to said flang in its construction. A reinforcing bracket or gusset member 21 is provided at the corner 23 and is spot welded to the flange 26. Along the lower edge of the wall 22 there is provided an inwardly extending flange 28. The bent ends may be reinfor-ced by gusset plates 25a spot welded to the top flanging 26, as shown in Fig. 8.

The main bathtub portion I 0 and the apron portion l i are secured together by spot welding together the inwardly extending flanges 2| and 26, the same being done preferably before the supporting frame i2 is secured to the main tub portion Ill.

The supporting frame l2 comprises two transverse channel members 30 the bottoms of the channels being cut out, as indicated at 3|, for the purpose of reducing weight. On the sides of each channel member there are formed upstanding legs or projections 32 having oppositely bent ends or feet 33 presenting flat portions which are spot welded to the tub bottom from the underside thereof. The transverse members 30 are connected together by a longitudinal channel member 34 which is similar in its construction to the transverse member 30 and has upstanding projections 35 similar to the projections 32 of the transverse members 30. The projections or legs 35 likewise have oppositely bent ends or feet portions which are spot welded to the bottom of the tub. Two diagonal braces 33 and 31 'are secured by their ends, as by welding. to the transverse members 33. The diagonal braces '33 and 31 are preferably of channel cross section. The supporting frame is flrst assembled and when it is ready to be incorporated into the bathtub it is of a shape shown in Fig. 8. Said frame is incorporated into the bathtub after the main tub portion ill and the apron portion I l are spot welded together, as explained above. In incorporating the supporting frame l2 into the bathtub, the upstanding projections 32 and 35 thereof are spot welded to the tub bottom from the underside thereof. The front ends of the transverse members 33 are spot welded to the flange 23 of the apron portion II, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2. The free ends of the diagonal braces 36 and 31 are spot welded to the flange 23 at the comers at the lower ends of the bends 25.

In spot welding the upstanding projections 32 and 35 to the bottom of the tub, copper supports are placed from the opposite side of the tub in order to prevent excessive heating of the metal in places of spot welding which would produce spots in the enameled coat. It should be understood that in the fully assembled position of the bathtub the supporting frame l2 rests directly on the floor, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and no additional sub-frames or the like are necessary.

1. In a bathtub, a main tub portion comprising a drawn sheet metal basin having a bottom and upwardly extending walls; an outwardly extending flange provided along the upper edge of a basin wall, said flange being turned downwardly along its outer edge to form an integral depending apron flange and said apron flange being bent inwardly along its lower edge toward the basin to provide an integral inwardly turned bottom flange, a pressed metal apron panel extending substantially from the floor line to the lower edge of said apron flange and having along its upper edge an in wardly directed flange and extending beneath said bottom flange, said last mentioned flanges being welded together at points concealed behind the apron flange and apron panel intermediate the height of the tub.

2. In a bathtub, a main tub portion comprising a drawn sheet metal basin having a bottom and upwardly extending walls; an outwardly extending flange provided along the upper edge of a basin wall, said flange being turned downwardly along its outer edge to form an integral depending apron flange and said apron flange being bent inwardly along its lower edge toward the basin to provide an integral inwardly turned bottom flange, said three flanges forming with the basin wall a seamless box-type construction, a pressed metal apron panel extending substantially from the floor line to the lower edge of said apron flange and having along its upper edge an inwardly directed flange substantially coextensive with said bottom flange and extending benea-th said bottom flange, said last mentioned flanges being welded together at points concealed behind the apron flange and apron panel intermediate the height of the tub.

' HARRY G. COORDES. 

